Vietlott lottery game is becoming increasingly popular in Hanoi. Players can select six numbers between 1 and 45 or use Quick Pick for random selection, and winnings of the lottery are announced daily.
Vietnamese lotteries are an integral part of Vietnamese culture. First introduced in the late 1960s and rapidly spreading throughout the nation since, it quickly brought massive amounts of revenue to government coffers as well as social welfare benefits. Unfortunately, due to its immense popularity this game can cause addiction, financial issues and lead to fraudulent activity by illegal gambling operators.
Nha Vy, a transgender woman from a rural village in southern Vietnam, found both confidence and an income performing lottery shows – an entertainment tradition dating back to French colonial rule, yet still widely popular today – like other sexual and gender minority people in Vietnam, she experienced stigma and discrimination for much of her life; but each time she steps proudly onto stage in her traditional Vietnamese ao dai or mini dress and heels the taunts and harassment she endured as a child fade away into nothingness.
Nha Vy is looking forward to the day she can win big at a lotterie jackpot, which would represent a fresh start in life and provide enough funds to support her children and provide her family with a better future. In order to achieve her goal, she needs to play every day.
Vietnam established its national lottery in 1962, yet other lottery games have recently cropped up across the country. Of particular popularity is so de, or “playing the numbers”, a quasi-legal form of gambling where bettors use local bookmakers to place bets on the last two digits of official state lottery results announced each day at 4:30pm.
This game is based on Chinese huahui, brought over from China during the early 1800s by migrants of Qing dynasty origins. Huahui quickly took hold and became one of Saigon’s gambling culture staples; eventually generating millions in revenues for both state-run enterprises as well as private ones.
Vietnam lottery games provide not only entertainment, but a vital source of income for poor and vulnerable groups. The Government Lottery Office (GLO) distributes some lottery proceeds towards charitable initiatives such as educational scholarships and healthcare programs, while raising awareness about responsible gaming – though unfortunately not everyone can do this, leading to serious financial strain and family breakdown. The GLO hopes to address this issue by working closely with local communities in spreading responsible gambling education; their partnership has already proven fruitful as the number of problem gamblers has decreased steadily in recent years.
